DAUK’s EDI lead Dr Yasotha Browne in conversation with Mariella Frostrup on News of the Day programme in Times Radio.
We do not think it is appropriate to leverage solutions to our current crisis for a leadership battle. One in five people in the UK are in poverty without resources to meet their minimum needs. As Doctors we understand the wider determinants of health and that with the cost of living, fuel, climate, NHS workforce and access crisis we don’t need a leadership contest but “getting on with the job”. Solutions to these issues should be based on expert modelling and not held to ransom for political gain. “Temporary pay cuts” in 2008 have led to in 2021 the average worker incurring £20,000 of lost earnings this is whilst the worth of UK billionaires rose from £258 billion to £653 billion. We are seeing a private healthcare boom and a two tier healthcare system, meaning equal access and health equity is becoming a thing of the past. This is not about being against private providers but the threat of defunding that risks worser health outcomes for those solely reliant on state funded healthcare. There are 100,000 NHS staff vacancies and doctors continue to leave in their droves. Where are the politicians who are willing to represent the everyday person?
